Cigarette holder



AUS- 30, 1955 J. R. JoHNs-roN 2,716,413

'CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed April l5, 1950 a' z j /3 5.5 l| /2 22 H a Willi.l 'l'.

(50 4 7,132 al llllla'lld I N V EN TOR. @ff/e5 JZ/rszzo,

BY 3% ma!" United States Patent() This invention relates to improvementsin a cigarette holder of the type having an articulation between themouthpiece and the cigarette holding socket. This application is acontinuation in part of my copending application led February 7, 1949,Ser. No. 75,019, now abandoned.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedeconomically manufactured cigarette holder of simplified constructionand operation having an articulated body to permit adjustment of thesocket and cigarette held thereby to any convenient angle with respectto the mouthpiece.

A lighted cigarette will continue to draw or breathe for a few secondsafter each draft by the smoker, so that even intermittent puffing at acigarette willresult in its substantially continuous drawing and theemission of smoke from its unlighted end within the smokers mouth. Thisresult is objectionable to many if not most smokers, since the enjoymentof a cool smoke-is not possible unless the cigarette and smokers mouthare permitted to cool in some way between drafts.

ln the ordinary use of a cigarette holder, the aforementioned breathingVbetween drafts is accentuatedby the chimney effect of the holder. Inorder to realize the enjoyment of a cool smoke, it is necessary for thesmoker to cool his mouth at intermittent periods either by parting hislips around the stem of the holder or by removing the latter fromhismouth. In either instance smoke pouring from the unlighted end of thecigarette will fill the smoke conduit of the holder and will cause agradual accumulation of an objectionable tarry residue. Furthermore, thechimney effect of the holder will cause the cigarette to burnappreciably faster than otherwise, resulting in considerable waste sincethe average smoker will have the holder in his mouth approximately onlyhalf of the time the cigarette is burning.

It is accordingly another object of the present invention to provide animproved cigarette holder having smoke release means whereby the chimneyeffect of the holder may be readily broken and the smoke readily blownfrom the smoke conduit to cool the same between drafts on the cigarette,and whereby breathing of the cigarette may be permitted without causingsmoke to pour through the stem or mouthpiece of the holder. Thus theordinary fouling of the smoke conduit by smoke condensate will beminimized and a cooler smoke will be achieved by maintaining a coolersmoke conduit.

Another object is to provide a cigarette holder having an improvedarticulation or joint between the mouthpiece and cigarette holdingsocket wherebythecigarette may be tilted to any desired angle relativeto the smoker, the joint being ordinarily closed around the smokeconduit during smoking but being adapted to be selectively opened by thesmoker to permit the escape of hot smoke between drafts and breathing ofthe cigarette without pouring smoke into the smoke conduit. i

Another and more specific object is to provide an improved cigaretteholder comprising a tubular socket memr'ce ber and a tubular mouthpiececonnected by a smoke conduit, the mouthpiece being detachably connectedto a rearward end of the conduit and the socket member having acigarette holding forward portion adapted to be detachably insertedthrough the bore of the smoke-conduit from said rearward end so as toproject from the forward end, the socket member also having a ball-likerearward portion adapted to seat against an annular inner retainingflange of the smoke conduit at the lat` ters forward end, therebypreventing forward passage ofthe ball-like portion completely throughthe smoke conduit and cooperating with said retaining flange to effectan adjustable articulation between the socket member and conduit. Byvirtue of this construction, thev In one embodiment of the presentinvention, a tubular i ejector is provided having an enlarged headwithin the cigarette holding portion of the socket member anda tubularshaft extending through the bore of the socket member and projectingrearward therefrom. The ejector shaft is slidable forward relative tothe bore of the socket member so as to eject a cigarette therefrom, butis suitably restrained against rearward movement by the structure of theholder. By this construction, the socket member may be moved rearwardwithin the bore of the smoke conduit relative to the latter and to theejector so as to cause the enlarged head of the latter to press forwardand eject a cigarette butt from the cigarette holding socket. i

Another object is to provide a cigarette holder of the foregoing naturewherein the forward portion of the bore of the mouthpiece is dimensionedto receive a nicotine filter ofstandard size and a lsecond tubularholder for a nicotine filter is located inthe smoke conduit, the secondholder having a socket or bore opening rearward coaxially into the.forward opening of the mouthpiecel around said stems and pressingforward against the ball-` like portion to hold the same seated snuglyagainst theI retaining flange.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Although the present invention is particularly adapted for use bycigarette smokers and is illustrated herein by wayofexample inapplication with a conventional cigarette, it is to be understood thatthe holder is not limited to such an application and is readilyadaptable yfor use with cigars or similar items. Accordingly the termcigarette as employed herein is to be interpreted to include all suchtobacco or'other smoking means, by whatevername customarily described,which may be suitably smoked while supported by a holder held within thesmokers mouth.`

Details of two modifications of the present invention are illustrated byway of example in the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a longitudinalmid-section through a cigarette holderembodying the present invention,showing in phantom the cigarette holding socket at an angular positionof adjustment with respect to the mouthpiece.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, showing the cigaretteholding socket in the ejecting position.V

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the direction of the arrowssubstantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing a modification of thepresent invention.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4, showing the cigarette holdingsocket in an angular position of adjustment.

Fig. 6 is a section taken in the direction of the arrows substantiallyalong the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and arrangement of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in variousways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or termi nologyemployed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring particularly to Figs. l through 3, an articulated cigaretteholder is shown comprising a tubular socket member A and a tubularmouthpiece member B operatively connected by a tubular conduit C. Themember A comprises a lightweight body 10 of any suitable material, suchas an aluminum or magnesium alloy or molded plastic for example, havingan integral spherical ball-like element 12 spaced from its rearward endby a constricted neck 14. The other end of the body is provided with aforward opening cigarette receiving socket 16 having a slightlychamfered mouth 13 and adapted in' depth to receive a coaxial tubularejector element 20 slidable therein. Extending coaxially rearward fromthe body 10 through the neck 14 and ball-like element 12 is a tubularstem or smoke conduit portion 22 of the ejector 20, terminating in anenlarged annular flange 24 within the forward portion of the conduit C.In order to permit rearward movement of the element 12 in an ejectoraction as discussed hereinafter, the bore thereof enlarges conicallyrearward at 26 to receive the ange 24. lt is apparent from the foregoingthat a continuous conduit or opening is provided through the member Afrom the mouth of the socket 16 through the ball element 12.

The ejector 20 is freely slidable longitudinally within the socket 16and is dimensioned to abut the rear end of a cigarette 28 inserted intothe socket 16.` Upon forward movement of the ejector 20 relative to themember A toward the mouth 1S, the cigarette 2S will be ejected.

The member B comprises a conventional mouthpiece element 30 of suitablematerial, such as hardwood or molded plastic for example, having anenlarged body portion 32 tapering slightly forward for detachableinsertion tightly into the rearward opening of the tubular conduit C.The latter comprises a generally cylindrical conduit formed of alightweight metallic alloy or plastic material dimensioned to receivewithin its bore the body 10 and ball element 12 of the member A. Theforward end of the bore of the conduit C is partially constricted by anannular inturned ball retaining ange or seat 34 yhaving an internaldiameter slightly less than the diameter of the ball element 12, butlarge enough to permit passage of the body 10 therethrough, Fig. 2. Thusforward displacement of the ball element 12 from the conduit C isprevented, but the entire member A may be withdrawn rearward through theconduit C. Thus the holder assembly may be readily taken apart forcleaning merely by pulling the tapered end portion 32 of the mouthpiecefrom the conduit C. Thereafter the socket member A is removable from theconduit C by sliding rearwardly through n the bore thereof. A brush orcleaning iuid may then be run Athrough the several bores. The adjacentcontacting portions of the ball element 12 and annular ange or seat 34are suitably polished to provide a substantially fluid tight sealbetween these elements when seated firmly toing when placed on a flattable.

gether, as for example by the spring pressure of a coil spring 36 undercompression within the conduit C between the rearward portions of theball 12 and forward extremity of the mouthpiece member B.

In the present instance, the forward portion of the mouthpiece bore isenlarged to receive a tubular extension 38 snugly therein. The latterextends coaxially forwardly from the mouthpiece B and abuts the flangedejector end 24 to prevent rearward movement thereof. Thus in order toeject a cigarette from the socket portion 16, the smoker need merelyslide the socket member A rearwardly along the ejector stem 22 againstthe pressure of the spring 36 to the position indicated in Fig. 2.

By reason of the ball and socket articulation between the members A andC, the position of the cigarette 28 with respect to the mouthpiece B maybe readily adjusted to any convenient angle, so that smoke arising fromthe cigarette will be least annoying to the smoker or his companions, orso that the cigarette'may be tilted out of the srnokers direct line ofvision to avoid obscuring his View while he is working, reading, drivingan automobile, or engaged in various other occupations.

When desired, the smoker may break the seal between the ball 12 and seat34 to permit the aforementioned breathing of the cigarette. This isaccomplished, when the socket member A is adjusted angularly withrespect to the conduit C, merely by forcing the ball 12 rearwardly intothe conduit C slightly away from the seat 34 suliciently to break thechimney effect of the holder, but without ejecting the cigarette. Smokepouring rearwardly into the conduit from the bore of the ball element 12during the cigarettes breathing interval will thus be discharged aroundthe ball to the atmosphere. If the smoker desires, cooling of themouthpiece B may be expedited by gently blowing therethrough while theseal at the seat 34 is broken, discharging smoke to the atmosphere fromthe conduit C and minimizing the objectionable collection orcondensation of combustion products therein and within the communicatingbores of the mouthpiece B and tube 38. y

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the present inventionwhich is particularly adapted for use selectively with two standardforms of nicotine filters. The general arrangement and function of thecigarette holding member A, mouthpiece member B and conduit C are thesame as above described, except that the mouthpiece B is detachablysecured to the rearward end of the conduit C in coaxial alignmenttherewith by a screw threaded connection. In place of the tubular member38, the forward portion of the mouthpiece bore is enlarged at 40 toreceive a nicotine lter insert therein of standard size. The filterinsert may be of conventional construction and is accordingly not shownor described herein.

Abutting the forward end of the mouthpiece B is a tubular cylindricalmember 42 having an integral forward tubular neck or extension 44 whichabuts the rearward ejector flange 24 substantially in the manner abovedescribed regarding the tubular member 38. The bore at the rearward endof the member 42 is enlarged at 46 to receive therein the forward end ofa second type of nicotine lter insert of smaller diameter than the boreportion 40. Such an insert is indicated at 47 in phantom and may thusextend rearwardly into the bore 40. Accordingly the present holder isreadily adapted for use selectively with two widely used nicotinefilters of different dimensions.

As indicated particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, the forward end of theconduit C is provided with an enlarged hexagonal exterior which willprevent the holder from roll- Thus the holder may be placed on a attable with the socket member A containing a lighted cigarette tiltedupwardly without danger of rolling and burning the table top.

It is also to be noted that the spherical extent of the ball element IZin Figs. 4 and 5" extends rearwardly considerably less than in Figs. 1,2 and 3. Accordingly upon pivoting the socket member A to the limit ofpivotal movement, Fig. 5, the rearward portion of the ball element 12will be pivoted forwardly` of the seat or, ange 34, breaking the sealand permitting the aforementioned breathing `action without causingsmoke to pour through the conduit C and 'mouthpiece B and withoutnecessitating rearward movement of the ball element 12 into the chamberof the conduit C.' This structure is particularly advantageous since bya flick of the finger, the socket member A may be tilted to break thechimney effect of the holder and thereby decrease the rate of burningduring theintervals when the holder is merely held in the smokers hand.In all other respects, the holder described in Figs. 4, and 6 isconstructed and employed in the manner above described and may bereadily taken apart for cleaning merely by unscrewing the mouthpiece Bfrom the conduit C and sliding the member A rearwardly through theconduit C.

In operation of the cigarette holders shown in either Figs. l or 5,particularly when the member A is adjusted angularly with respect to theconduit C, the respective tubular extension 38 or 44 serves as a smokebathe. Accordingly, smoke leaving the ejector conduit 22'wi1l circulatein the cylindrical space between theconduit C and the correspondingextension 38 or 44 before entering the bore of thelatter. Appreciablecooling of the smoke is thus effected through-the -sidewalls of theconduit C, permitting a cooler smoke by virtue of the presentconstruction than is otherwise ordinarily possible.

I claim:

l. In an articulated cigarette holder', a tubular conduit, a tubularmouthpiece having a forward end detachably secured tothe rear end ofsaid conduit, a tubular cigarette holding socket` member dimensioned tobe passed through said conduit into either end and out the other, andarticulated means connecting the socket member and conduit comprising aportion at the rear end of said socket member intertting within theforward end of said conduit, said portion being dimensioned to be passedrearwardly through said conduit and out the rear end thereof.

2. In an articulated cigarette holder, a tubular conduit, a tubularmouthpiece detachably connected to the rear end of said conduit, atubular cigarette holding socket member dimensioned to be passed throughsaid conduit into either end and out the other, and articulated meansadjustably connecting the socket member to the front end of said conduitfor universal angular adjustment of the socket member with respect tothe conduit.

3. In an articulated cigarette holder, a tubular conduit having anannular ball retaining seat at the forward end partially constrictingthe interior thereof, a tubular body having a ball-like element withinsaid conduit seated against said seat to complete a ball-and-socket typearticulation therewith, said body also having a cigarette receivingsocket member projecting forwardly from said conduit and beingdimensioned to be passed rearwardly through said annular retaining seatand to be separated from the conduit by being passed through the rearend thereof, the tubular body having a bore extending from said socketmember into the interior of the tubular conduit through said ball-likeelement, a tubular mouthpiece detachably connected to the rear end ofsaid conduit in communication therewith, and spring means yieldinglyurging the ball-like element into seated engagement with the retainingseat.

4. In an articulated cigarette holder, a tubular conduit having anannular ball retaining seat at the forward end partially constrictingthe interior thereof, a tubular body having a ball-like element withinsaid conduit seated against said seat to complete a balland-socket typearticulation therewith and also having urenlaa cigarette receivingsocket member projecting forwardly from said conduit and being adaptedto be passed rearwardly through said annular retaining seat, the tubularbody having a bore extending through said balllike element from saidsocket member to said tubularv conduit, a tubular mouthpiece detachablyconnected to the rearward end of said tubular conduit in communicationtherewith, spring means yieldingly urging the ball-like element intoseated engagement with the retaining seat, a hollow ejector slidablewithin said sock-` et portion, a tubular stem extending within thev boreof the body, said stem having a forward end connected with the ejector'and in communication with the in terior thereof and having a rearwardflared end adapted to limit forward movement thereof through the bore ofthe body, said ball-like element having a rearwardly opening socketadapted to` receive the llared end of said stem upon rearward movementof the body relative to the conduit, and abutment means adjacent said lyfrom said conduit, the tubular body having a borel extending throughsaid ball-like element from said socket lmember to said conduit, atubular ,mouthpiece detachably connectedy to the rearward end of saidconduit in`communication with the bore thereof, a hollow ejectorfyslidable within said socket portion, a tubular stem extending withinthe .bore of the body, said stem having ay forward end connected withthe ejector land in communication with the interior thereof and having arearward flared end adapted to limit forward movement thereof throughthe bore of the body, said balllike element having a rearwardly openingsockety adapted to receive the flared end of said stem upon rearwardmovement of the body relative to the conduit, and abutment meansadjacent said flared end adapted to limit rearward movement of the sternupon said rearward movement of the body.

6. In a cigarette holder, a tubular conduit having a mouthpiece at oneend and an annular retaining seat partially constricting a bore in saidconduit at the other end, a tubular body extending through theconstricted bore at said other end, said body having a ball elementwithin said conduit seated against said annular retaining seat to closethe forward end of said bore and also having a cigarette receivingsocket portion projecting forwardly of the constricted bore, the ballelement comprising a spherical segment pivotally adjustable on saidannular seat for adjusting the angular position of the socket memberwith respect to the conduit, the spherical surface of the segmentterminating rearwardly of said ball element so as to be adapted to beswung through the constricted opening and open the bore of the conduitto the atmosphere upon pivoting of the body to a predetermined position,the bore of the body extending from the base of the socket portionthrough said ball element.

7. In a cigarette holder, a tubular conduit having an annular ballretaining seat partially closing the forward portion of a bore therein,a tubular mouthpiece detachably connected to said conduit at therearward end thereof, a tubular body extending through the forwardportion of said bore, said body having a ball element at one end withinthe conduit adjustably seated Vagainst said seat to close the forwardend of the bore of the conduit between the seat and ball element andbeing pivotable for adjusting the angular position of the body withrespect to the conduit, the body also having a cigarette receivingsocket member forwardly of the forward end of the conduit anddimensioned to be passed rearwardly through the conduit, the sphericalsurface of the ball element being engageable with said seat terminatingat its rear portion so as to swing forwardly past the seat and open theforward end of the bore of the conduit to the atmosphere upon swingingof the body to a predetermined position with respect to the conduit.

8. In an articulated cigarette holder, a tubular structure comprising atubular conduit and a tubular mouthpiece detachably secured to the rearend of said conduit in fixed relation with respect thereto, a tubularsocket member having a socket portion at its forward end dimensioned toreceive a cigarette therein, said member extending slidably into theforward end of said tubular conduit and having a ball portion pivotablewithin said conduit, said tubular conduit having a bore having aconstricted opening forwardly of said ball por-l tion adapted to limitforward movement of the latter, said opening and the bore of saidconduit being dimensioned for passage of said member rearwardlytherethrough upon detachment of said mouthpiece from said conduit, anejector slidable axially within the socket portion of said member andpivotable with respect to said tubular conduit, said ejector having astem extending rearwardly through said ball portion and having blockingmeans engageable with. said tubular structure to limit axial rearwardshifting of said ejector with respect to said conduit.

9. In an articulated cigarette holder, `a tubular conduit having a boretherethrough, a tubular mouthpiece detachably connected to the rearwardend of said conduit and in communication with the bore thereof, saidconduit having an annular ball retaining seat at the forward endpartially constrieting the bore thereof, a

tubularl body` extending through the constricted end of said bore, saidbody havingja ball-like element within said conduit seated againstsaidyseat to complete a ball``.

and-socket Atype varticulation therewith-and also having a ycigarettere'eiving'socket projecting forwardlyA from saidpconduit, said bodyhaving a borein communication with said cigarette receiving socketandalso in communication with the bore of the conduit through saidball-likey element, spring means jyie'ldingly urgingA the ball-likeelement vinto seated engagement with the retaining seat, a hollowejector slidable within said cigarette receiving socket comprising'atubular stem connected atl its forward end to the ejector and extendingrearwardly throughuthe bore of the body, and an enlargement` on the stemengageable with the lforward end portion of the mouthpiece 'to limitrearward movement of said ystem upon rearward movement of the bodyrelative to said tubular conduit, said enlargementbeing also engageablewith said body to vlimit forward movement of saidl stern with respect tosaid holding member. i

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS j

